Noun Paradigm Table

A paradigm table is a useful device to make an inventory of the forms a noun can take, using the most common categories we have identified. In the left column of the paradigm table, we will give information about the categories of gender, number, obviation, locative, diminutive and possessive. The notation, 3, is used for animate nouns. The notation, 0, is used for inanimate nouns. The quote ‘ is used for marking obviation. The table below lists the notations used in the following paradigm tables and their meanings.

Notation

Meaning

3

animate proximate singular

3p

animate proximate plural

3′

animate obviative singular

3’p

animate obviative plural

0

inanimate proximate singular

0p

inanimate proximate plural

0′

inanimate obviative singular

0’p

inanimate obviative plural

LOC

locative

DIM

diminutive

POSS

possessive

Basic paradigms for Animate nouns

ᐄᔨᒃiiyik (na) frog

3

ᐄᔨᒃ

iiyik

3p

ᐄᔨᑭᒡ

iiyikich

3′ 3’p

ᐄᔨᒃᐦ

iiyikh

LOC

ᐄᔨᑭᐦᒡ

iiyikihch

Basic paradigms for Inanimate nouns

ᐊᔥᑐᑎᓐashtutin (ni) hat

0

ᐊᔥᑐᑎᓐ

ashtutin

0p 0’p

ᐊᔥᑐᑎᓐᐦ

ashtutinh

0′

ᐊᔥᑐᑎᓂᔫ

ashtutiniyuu

LOC

ᐊᔥᑐᑎᓂᐦᒡ

ashtutinihch

These paradigm tables show the basic inflection of nouns. Some nouns have special stem shapes, creating changes in the inflectional forms.